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Creative Industries

The Local Enterprise Office engaged with the creative sectors and other stakeholders to inform the development of a Strategic Action Plan for Creative Entrepreneurship for Donegal that was launched in the RCC, Letterkenny on the 18th May 2015. The process began with an open workshop attended by over 30 stakeholders held in our offices in Letterkenny in October 2014. This was a first opportunity for people in the creative sectors in Donegal to participate in this strategic initiative. A key outcome was a request for another meeting and a second open workshop attended by over 20 stakeholders took place in the Local Enterprise Office in early December 2014.

A draft Strategic Action Plan was developed in January 2014 and an Interim Strategic Review Group made up of over 15 creative sector and local agency representatives were invited to provide feedback and attend a third workshop to discuss the potential for collaborative action.

In addition to the workshops:

An online survey was circulated during November and December and received 86 responses

Over 55 1:1 discussions were held via meetings and phone calls for a representative spread across the county, relevant sectors and agency supports

The initiative was presented at the 2014 Allingham Festival and an information stand was set up at this event to raise awareness of the initiative

The Local Enterprise Office engaged with stakeholders, agencies and local authority departments to develop opportunities for collaboration in the delivery of supports for the creative sectors.

One of the key issues identified in the stakeholder workshops was the need to establish the current profile of the creative sectors in the county to enable exchange of ideas and stimulate new opportunities. To deliver on this action we would appreciate greatly if any creative entrepreneurs would share their details with us by contacting:

An exciting new online directory that lists Donegal’s creative and cultural sector was launched this week. Commissioned by The Local Enterprise Office of Donegal County Council, ‘Creative Coast Donegal’ is a visualisation tool that aims to develop a shared vision and identity for the creative sector in the county. The online directory is part of an initiative arising from The Strategic Action Plan for Creative Entrepreneurship in Donegal.

There are currently 119 businesses registered on the website, which provides an up-to-date, ‘live’ profile of businesses operating within the county’s creative sector. The aim of the initiative is threefold: to inform people of potential opportunities in Donegal’s creative sector, to connect people across different disciplines and to broker partnerships around creative innovation.

The categories listed on the site include architecture, video, illustration, textile design, digital and print design, advertising, film, animation, music, poetry and much more.

Michael Tunney from Donegal’s Local Enterprise Office is encouraging anyone working in a creative industry to sign up: “Donegal has a host of untapped potential in the creative sector and ‘Creative Coast Donegal’ is about encouraging the exchange of ideas and stimulating new opportunities to help us realise that potential. This platform will enable creatives across the county to collaborate with their peers and potentially grow the whole sector. We envisage this directory will continuously evolve and grow and I would encourage all creative entrepreneurs to get involved. Registering your business couldn’t be simpler; visit the homepage, www.creativecoastdonegal.ie, click ‘Add+’ and fill in the name and nature of your business, how long you’ve been in operation and include a link to your website and social media channels.”

Batik Artist, Fiona Higgins is one of the businesses registered on The Creative Coast Donegal and a member of the steering committee. She believes the initiative has a key role to play in developing the sector here: “When it comes to the creative sector, Donegal has always punched above its weight, so it’s great that we now have a forum to showcase our wide ranging talent with the world. Collaboration is a key part of what the Creative Coast Donegal is about and I’m confident that working together in this way, we can inspire, develop and strengthen the creative sector in Donegal.”

The Creative Coast Donegal is overseen by a creative partnership committee made up of representatives from the public and private sector, facilitated by the Local Enterprise Office of Donegal County Council. For more information on the Creative Coast Donegal visit www.creativecoastdonegal.ie or contact a member of the Local Enterprise team on 074 9160735 or via email: info@leo.donegalcoco.ie

Local Enterprise Office Donegal is supported through co-funding from the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020